Post by Brooke on Apr 1, 2004 23:01:38 GMT -5
Is Your Pet At Risk For Mad Cow Disease?
Mad Cow Contamination Could Creep Into Dog Or Cat Food
POSTED: 3:51 pm EST March 30, 2004
UPDATED: 4:06 pm EST March 30, 2004
You love your pets and try to do what's best for them, but the food you give them has the same risks as any other meat, and that could include mad cow disease.
"Is there a possibility that the infected nervous tissue from a cow could slip into the pet food chain and make it into dog or cat food? It's a possibility," said Dr. Dan Goldner, a veterinarian at Hickory Veterinary Hospital.
In fact, U.S. officials recalled some Canadian pet food last year because it contained meat from a cow diagnosed with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE -- otherwise known as mad cow disease.
Just a few months ago, a cow in Washington state who had mad cow disease, somehow found its way into the human food chain.
"I guess if it can get into our food, of course it can get into cat food, but I try not to worry," said Jutta Watts, who is a cat owner.
"We're very careful. She's strictly a Science Diet pet. We don't even feed her any meat," said Herman Pitchon, a dog owner.
Goldner said the problem is that an infected animal can have prions -- the protein particles responsible for the disease --for years before showing signs it is sick.
A similar disease has been seen in about 94 cats worldwide, but none from North America. Several cases were seen in Great Britain during its mad cow disease outbreak. But there have been no cases in dogs anywhere.
The Pet Food Institute told NBC 10's HealthWatch: "The USDA is engaging in a massive surveillance program to determine if there are any other BSE-positive animals in the U.S. herd. That and other safety factors and will ensure that the products used in our foods is safe."
To be safe, check the ingredients on your dry pet foods. If "meat and bone meal," or "beef and bone meal" is listed, the product is likely contains nervous tissue from cattle.
Dr. Roger Pomerantz of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital said the mad cow prions responsible for the disease are protein organisms and are far more difficult to kill than the average virus or bacteria.
You may wonder if you will run the risk of contaminating your family by putting your pet's bowl into the dishwasher along with other dishes. Pomerantz says it is unlikely.
"The amount of water that is used in washing these dishes, or in a dishwasher with human dishes, you're really talking about very little amounts of prions, so I think the dilution itself would keep most people safe from it," Pomerantz said.
But, Pomerantz says, there are other illnesses that can be transferred from your pets to you, so it's a good idea to avoid using your human dishes and utensils for your pet's food, and you should always be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after feeding your pets.
Mad Cow Contamination Could Creep Into Dog Or Cat Food
POSTED: 3:51 pm EST March 30, 2004
UPDATED: 4:06 pm EST March 30, 2004
You love your pets and try to do what's best for them, but the food you give them has the same risks as any other meat, and that could include mad cow disease.
"Is there a possibility that the infected nervous tissue from a cow could slip into the pet food chain and make it into dog or cat food? It's a possibility," said Dr. Dan Goldner, a veterinarian at Hickory Veterinary Hospital.
In fact, U.S. officials recalled some Canadian pet food last year because it contained meat from a cow diagnosed with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE -- otherwise known as mad cow disease.
Just a few months ago, a cow in Washington state who had mad cow disease, somehow found its way into the human food chain.
"I guess if it can get into our food, of course it can get into cat food, but I try not to worry," said Jutta Watts, who is a cat owner.
"We're very careful. She's strictly a Science Diet pet. We don't even feed her any meat," said Herman Pitchon, a dog owner.
Goldner said the problem is that an infected animal can have prions -- the protein particles responsible for the disease --for years before showing signs it is sick.
A similar disease has been seen in about 94 cats worldwide, but none from North America. Several cases were seen in Great Britain during its mad cow disease outbreak. But there have been no cases in dogs anywhere.
The Pet Food Institute told NBC 10's HealthWatch: "The USDA is engaging in a massive surveillance program to determine if there are any other BSE-positive animals in the U.S. herd. That and other safety factors and will ensure that the products used in our foods is safe."
To be safe, check the ingredients on your dry pet foods. If "meat and bone meal," or "beef and bone meal" is listed, the product is likely contains nervous tissue from cattle.
Dr. Roger Pomerantz of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital said the mad cow prions responsible for the disease are protein organisms and are far more difficult to kill than the average virus or bacteria.
You may wonder if you will run the risk of contaminating your family by putting your pet's bowl into the dishwasher along with other dishes. Pomerantz says it is unlikely.
"The amount of water that is used in washing these dishes, or in a dishwasher with human dishes, you're really talking about very little amounts of prions, so I think the dilution itself would keep most people safe from it," Pomerantz said.
But, Pomerantz says, there are other illnesses that can be transferred from your pets to you, so it's a good idea to avoid using your human dishes and utensils for your pet's food, and you should always be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after feeding your pets.